Schrödinger’s Cat meets Maxwell’s Demon: Quantum Error Correction (That Works)

A 'second quantum revolution' is underway based on our new understanding of how information can be stored and manipulated using quantum hardware. Even more remarkable than the concept of quantum computation is the concept of quantum error correction. We know that measurement disturbs a quantum state. Nevertheless, it is possible to store an unknown quantum state and if it develops errors due to imperfect hardware, we can measure and correct such errors to recover the original unknown state (without ever knowing what the state is).

A recent experiment at Yale storing quantum information in Schrödinger cat states of microwave photons has successfully demonstrated quantum error correction that for the first time enhances the lifetime of the information. This talk will present an elementary introduction to the field as well as an overview of recent experimental progress.